The Horror of the Cross

Text: Matthew 10:34-39

-- Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. - For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter-in-law against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. - He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. - And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me is not worthy of me. - He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Introduction:

About 20 years ago, I was visiting a friend who lived in the Elizabeth neighborhood of Charlotte. This is an interesting little enclave between upsacale Myers Park and the burgeoning medical community surrounding Presbyterian Hospital. We shared a love for old records, and his house was a block away from Charlotte's premiere old record store, the Wax Museum. After visiting there, and browsing their vault of the classics, we decided to get lunch at the Kosher Deli next door.

It was the wierdest thing I've ever seen in my life. The owner seemed very indignant about our presence in his establishment. He seemed to go out of his way to serve others who were there ahead of us. When he finally took our orders, and served us our sandwiches, we took our seats at an empty table. I noticed that the people around us hurried to finish their meals and left. My friend, who had eaten there many times, seemed at a loss to understand what was happening. Then he noticed something about me and had to give me the sad news that I was an offense in this place.

You see, when I was in my early twenties I thought expressing my faith outwardly was an important thing, and to do it I made it a point to wear a cross around my neck...not an ornate one, just a simple, wooden cross. No one would be offended by that, would they? Well, it turned out that to the Orthodox and Conservative Jews who frequented this deli the site of someone wearing a cross was an abomination...a horror, and for the first time I felt ashamed to have worn it in a place.

That scene was, I think reminiscent of the way most people thought about the cross in Jesus' time. Far from being a symbol of the hope of our salvation, the cross was a symbol of the most horrible way to die...slowly and with great agony.

I. The cross and its process, crucifixion were designed to instill fear in a subservient people.

A.History tells us that the Persians were the first to use crucifixion, impaling captured soldiers on a pointed stake planted outside an enemy city. The pained expressions of the dead would be seen by those in the city, eating away at their will to resist.

B. Jewish historian Josephus tells us that the Romans copied crucifixion from the Persians, adding the crosspiece, or Petibulum, to the vertical stake. This device prolonged the agony of one placed upon it. It was used when they needed to make an example before conquered peoples.

C. The practice even continued into comparatively modern times.

1. Vladimir of Wallachia, known as "The Impaler" or "Dracula."

2. The English wall known as "Treasons Row" near the Tower of London

3. The Serbs in Bosnia, crucifying Muslims in the name of Christ.

II. When Jesus spoke of "carrying a cross" and following Him, his hearers were certainly repulsed at the thought.

A. To carry a cross meant to carry the sentence of a vile offender of the law, something you wouldn't be doing out of choice. Yet Jesus seems to say that we have a choice to carry this cross or not to do it.

B. To follow someone while carrying a cross was a sign of total devotion. It was saying even if that person should be given a death sentence the follower would go down to the death with him.

C. To follow someone while carrying a cross meant all other obligations were secondary. Christ talks about this in our theme scripture. Taking care of one's affairs is good advice, and scriptural too. But no one who is not willing to forsake houses, lands, mother or father would be worthy of our Lord. Following Christ is a tall order.

 

III. But this is what it takes to be identified with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who endured the horror of the cross for your sake and mine.

A. Great crowds followed Him, but when he spoke of his death and how difficult it would be to follow him there, the crowds left save the twelve.

B. In an upper room Jesus invested these twelve with the greatest teaching ever given to man, then he broke the bread and said "This is my body...". He poured the cup and said "This represents the new covenant of my blood...". And later that night, as the soldiers came for Christ they all fled away.

C. The reality of death is strong. The fear of death is nearly universal. Even those who say "We will follow you wherever you go..." pale and tremble when the reality of death is manifested.

Conclusion:

The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper which we observe is, as the Lord commands, a celebration of His death. We shroud death in rituals, we hide it in ornate caskets surrounded by flowers and momentos of life, but when we strip away the fascade, death is a horror that has no equal in the human range of experience. From the abuse of our Lord in the Sanhedrin's court to his last wretching breath saying "It is finished...", Jesus' death is a horror story worthy of the name. As we celebrate with the bread and the cup today, let us remember that the one who instituted this holy sacrament...died. But as He ended that last supper with the disciples, He left us a promise. Death is not forever, because the one who died on the cross rose victorious. He encourages us never to forget, for we are to remember this, the Savior's death, until He returns to us again.